Author Archive
A LIVING TRAGEDY… THE WORLD’S GREATEST DRUMMER RETIRES FROM PLAYING LIVE
Author: Jeff Boule
With each day, more and more disparaging news comes across our collective desk. This could have been titled The Death Of Progressive Part Two. The world’s premiere drummer, Bill Bruford, announced on his website his retirement from public performance effective the first of this year. Before you all get bent out of shape about who the best drummer in the world is, remember, at the top of this post it SHOULD say “opinion” or “editorial”. Remember, you don’t have to agree with my opinion. But let’s examine what, in my opinion, makes Bruford the best.
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Well here is your intrepid blogger, deep inside enemy territory. I mean crazy deep; I can count at least three laser-sight dots on my flak vest. Firstly, I am sure I have bad-mouthed this venue, as it likes to jerk its customers around. If I haven’t maybe I should now. For one show they offer you luxurious accommodation at a particular price, and then for a next show, you pay that same price and get a barstool. CRIPES!! That was a shot close to my ear! Next, I MUST address some recent King Crimson issues (Wetton was the bass player in the`70’s incarnation): If you all think I am spewing sour grapes as I won’t be able to see the 40th Anniversary King Crimson shows alleged to be taking place on the west coast, I refer you to the August 2008 archive where my review of the August 16th Nokia Theatre performance in New York City lie in state for all to examine. If my ramblings got the Brain and the Bald One to reconsider their heinous acts, so be it! I would be open to ghost authoring the Bald One’s book. He once referred to himself as dumb-as-a-shovel… BAIL OUT!!! That was a concussion bomb, about thirty feet away. I need to interject that should I not make it out of this review alive, please scour the wooded areas of Mount Juliet, TN for my remains. Lastly, I am inside the stomping ground of the Birdwoman, the pipeline to the Bald One. If I fart, she tells The Bald One. DUCK!!!!
Kasim Sulton, Live In Atlanta… Or live in your living room!
Author: Jeff Boule
When I first heard about Utopia’s new bass player back in 1977, I wondered if he would last. “Who is this Kaseem Sooltan?” I asked. The answer is extraordinary talent, a level-headed sensibility and a close eye on Todd Rundgren have kept him working with industry names such as Mick Jagger, Joan Jett, Patti Smyth and most notably as musical director for Meatloaf, as well as being part of the foundation of the Bat Out Of Hell original album and a right-hand man to Rundgren since Utopia’s evaporation in 1992.
Rundgren NYE Review Redux
Author: Jeff Boule
Due to the extreme word count of the recent Todd Rundgren NYE Concert review, the comment section was disabled. Firstly, I’d like to use this unique opportunity to allow those readers who wish to comment on the review to do so at the end of this brief blog. When I started to receive emails at my home account containing comments about the review, I knew I would have to do something, well, like this! Additionally, I would like to extend tremendous thanks to Doug the promoter of the event for contributing fact checking and editing. So if you have a comment about the review I invite you to leave one after this blog. Thanks!
To paraphrase the sappy, mushy title theme from the equally sappy movie Love Story of the `70’s, “Where do I begin, to tell the story of how great a night can be?” No minor exaggeration, this was one of those once-in-a-lifetime events that everyone who attended will not soon forget. The evening had everything every average Todd Rundgren fan would run a Ponzi scheme to get to.
Top Ten Musician’s List for 2008
Author: Jeff Boule
Happy New Year to all! On my recent visit to the Princeton Record Exchange, the sheer volume of inventory overwhelmed me. The things that were available were equally astounding. Yes, I have been blogging about PREX site unseen until now. I can only further recommend getting down there and checking things out. That is, if you have a ton of time to peruse the massive inventory.
All those artists and genres, it would take hours upon hours to examine everything they have that one might have an interest in. The scope of the variety that the Exchange contained has inspired and reminded me that it is time for my picks of this past year and overall.
Foo Fighters Too Big For Their Britches? And Other Fan Casualties.
Author: Jeff Boule
Before you get mislead, no fans or audience members were harmed in the making of this blog. But it ain’t pretty.
For those of you not familiar with the name David Byrne, he was the strange man in the suit and horned-rimmed glasses chopping at his forearm in the Talking Heads “Once In A Lifetime” video. Talking Heads long-time producer, Brian Eno, has been a long-time collaborator of Byrne’s. The show was billed as The Songs Of David Byrne and Brian Eno, right there, you know it’s going to be…
The Death Of Rock and Roll, and Progressive
Author: Jeff Boule
I was asked why my blogs do not appear weekly. The simple answer to this question is: life. I am currently rehearsing my solo acoustic show, I am also participating in my company’s Christmas show, so I have to learn three X-mas songs. This should prove interesting, as I am not a religious person.
But this week, even more extraneous circumstances have arisen that makes one think perhaps everything we are doing is pointless.
Arena = Todd Rundgren + Guitars Guitars Guitars!
Author: Jeff Boule
The story behind the album Arena is simply a tale born out of situational necessity. You die-hard Rundgren fans remember a couple of years ago (around the time the movie CARS came out) Todd had replaced Ric Ocasek in The New Cars (the ‘New’ being added in light of the minority percentage of returning members, only Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes returned). Also joining Easton and Hawkes were Utopia and long-time Rundgren bassist and vocalist Kasim Sulton alongside drummer for The Tubes, Jefferson Starship and also a long-time Rundgren band member Prairie Prince. During the New Cars tour, the tour bus was in an accident and Easton fell from an upper bunk and broke his shoulder/collar bone. The tour was cut short, the cross-promotion with the Pixar movie was cancelled, and Rundgren found himself with nothing to do for a summer. Not wanting to waste a prime touring season, Rundgren spoke with Tony Levin band and long-time Rundgren guitarist Jesse Gress who contacted Levin and recruited him along with Levin Band drummer Jerry Marotta to do a two guitars bass and drums tour. Less expensive than touring with Midi and keyboards, etc.
Seeing as how he was going to be touring with a guitar-oriented band, not only did he have to limit his repertoire to guitar based or guitar-oriented or guitar adaptable songs, he also had to rearrange some keyboard-oriented standards for guitar.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. Enough said from Byrne/Eno.
Author: Jeff Boule
It seems that life is so high pressure these days. Economic crisis, housing crisis, Middle East crisis, everything in crisis. Sometimes you need something to bring your stress level down. The new album from David Byrne and Brian Eno is something that can keep your toes tapping while reducing heart rate and blood pressure levels. But the music is far too lively to be as coma inducing as some of the earlier Eno ambient albums. But it is far more cerebral than Talking Heads.
Any time Nine Inch Nails rolls into town, there is likely to be an event. Mostly because they ARE the event. The lineup sported by Trent Reznor was no exception. It was great to see Robin Finck, as well as seeing (again) Josh Freese, who was drumming for Devo at the Pier (see an earlier blog) in Philly. Alessandro Cortini is a breath of fresh air for all the musicians in the audience. Since Cortini joined the band, all the keyboard parts have been played as they should be as opposed to what other NIN keyboardists were doing, which was triggering one key to play an entire phrase.
No cheating at THIS show, it was ALL good.
Scars On Broadway Leave Marks on System, Serj.
Author: Jeff Boule
Once upon a time there were four Armenian boys who formed one of modern rock’s heaviest bands. I am recalcitrant to say heavy metal, as, especially with Scars On Broadway, all these artists can play soft as well as heavy. But back to our four Armenian friends, they formed a band. One considerably older gentleman (Serj Tankian), and the very unusual bass playing style and sound of Shavo Odajian, and two childhood friends Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan.
Now the childhood buddies had very distinct ideas on how the music should sound. But so too did the older gentleman and the unusual player. Four opinions in one small band is toxic.
At the absolute pinnacle of their career, nothing could go better, they decide now is the time to split up and do solo things. So the older Serj went and did his the fastest. His came out first to modest fan/critical response. Next came the project of the buddies Malakian and Dolmayan.
It is easy to see that Shavo will have a tough act to follow.
The heavy dissonances, speedy beats, time/tempo changes, humorous lyrics, inventive keyboards, all belong to the Malakian/Dolmayan connection.
Because as Scars on Broadway, these guys got it dead to rights!!!
The King Is Dead, Long Live King Crimson – Nokia Theater, NYC, Aug. 16.
Author: Jeff Boule
Faithful readers have heard this from me before, but there is no more appropriate venue to bring forth this tired tidbit, this go-round of King Crimson is to herald the 40th anniversary of the Mighty Crim Beast. Not to promote an album, simply to celebrate the 40th year Robert Fripp has been sitting atop the throne of this massive monster. Read the rest of this entry »
Todd Rundgren Turns Atlantic City Borgata Into His Personal Hard Rock Arena
Author: Jeff Boule
Hello again, good Prexites, we have a surprise for you this week. Normally, we are in the middle of reviewing the Utopia Box set Last Of The New Wave Riders. But why settle for a box set when you can see the real thing? Well almost the real thing. Imagine my surprise when the opportunity to see Todd Rundgren live presented itself! Upon learning of the gig through his premiere fan site The TRConnection, I learned that this was a pre-release promotional tour for his upcoming album Arena, featuring songs written in a hard-rock context. What I was not expecting from this show was the ENTRIRE song list from the Arena album. I was able to fall in love with the songs before I plunk out the cash for the download or CD (in my rabid fan state, I will buy both!).
A Hapless Solo Bear Watches Man And Sighs
Author: Jeff Boule
Chris Arduser is not now, nor will he ever be a household name. But I would rather keep this Chris Arduser in tact as opposed to some record label machination. I have come to know and love Deathy (as he is known in the inner circles of the Bear’s cave) through his work with Adrian Belew and the Bears, the Psychodots and later Raisins, Graveblankets and his own solo albums.
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Utopia’s Last Of The New Wave Riders Hurtles Towards Oblivion
Author: Jeff Boule
As we recover from the Holiday weekend, we need to take it easy. With this in mind, we will be doing an abbreviated review (read: not a two-parter this week). During our lull in concerts this month, we are continuing with our examination of the Utopia box set, Last Of The New Wave Riders. A set of live performance CDs spanning from early in Utopia’s career up to almost the end. This particular show, the Oblivion Tour, is a single disc. Additionally, since the last entry about Devo generated some interest I need to address some comments that were left.
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Beautiful Mutants Were Heard In The Distance: Devo at Penn’s Landing
Author: Jeff Boule
When you think of Devo, certain things just don’t come to mind. Power chords, heavy, loud styles of music and guitars. Well at Penn’s landing on June 28th, Devo was all that and more! Performing their “stadium/festival” set; these are tracks that they can perform without the assistance of midi, sequencers or anything of that ilk. As if stripped down to their possible beginnings, Devo provided tones to enrage and engorge the attendees. Read the rest of this entry »
Utopia’s Last Of The New Wave Riders Deface The Beatle’s Music (Part Two)
Author: Jeff Boule
Picking up from where we (mercifully) left off last week, we are smack-dab in the middle of what is part of the box set from Todd Rundgren and Utopia chronicling their Deface The Music tour. To recap, Deface The Music was Utopia’s tribute to the Beatles. Rundgren and Sulton have frequently stated that the Beatles were tremendous influences on them both. Powell and Wilcox are more comfortable in the jazz realm, but also have Beatle-influence (come on, everybody has Beatle influence, even if you didn’t like them, odds are, many of the artists you DO like were influenced by the Beatles so vicariously, you are influenced).
But this isn’t about the Beatles, it’s about Utopia, maybe for this tour we should call them Beatleopia. Read the rest of this entry »
In conjunction with, but not necessarily a part of, The Summer Concert Series feature I have undertaken on this here PREX site, I am also reviewing some rare, unearthed, it took me several distributors to find this, live Utopia. Featuring a frequent blog topic, Todd Rundgren and his four-piece model of Utopia. This model was the version with Wilcox, Powell and Sulton. I can hear you all asking: “Who are these people?” Read the rest of this entry »